Car-fender



"(No Model.) I

T. G. HAMMOND.

OAR FENDER.

No.55'7,201. S Patemeg Mar.3l, 1896.

J v Q l S1 FIG. I

WITNESSES: S- INVENTOR.

" THEODORE c. HAMMOND.

I 2%. 26% ATTY.

AN DREW EGRAHAM. PHOTO'UTHQWASKINGTONQC,

3 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

T. 0. HAMMOND. OAR FENDER.

Patented Mai. 31, 1896.

WITNESSES iNVENTOR THEODORE 'c; HAMMOND- BY U/ mch fvfiaa ATTY.

AN DREW E.GRAHAM, PHOTO-LITHQWASHINGTON. D C

no Model.) I r 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 T'. C. HAMMOND.

GAR FENDER.

Patented Mar ,(IIILIIIIIIIIII) IIIIIFIIIIIIVIIIIA IIIIIIIIII mIIIIIIIIIII WITNESSES: w

ANDREW B :GRAHAM. PHUTO-UTHO. WASHINGTON. D Cv UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

THEODORE O. HAMMOND, OF NEXVARK, NElV JERSEY.

CAR-FENDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557, 201, dated March31, 1896.

A li ti fil d October 3, 1894:. Serial No. 524,788. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that LTHEoDoEE OHAMMQND, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Fenders; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in fenders or life savingguards for railway-cars, such as electric, cable, or other surface cars5 and the invention has for its principal object to provide aconvenient, adjustable, and perfectly-operatin g device of this classwhich is intended and is especially adapted for the protection of humanbeings from loss of life or serious injury.

The invention consists in the novel form of fender and in thearrangement and combinations of the several devices and parts, as willbe hereinafter fully described, and finally set forth in the clauses ofthe claim.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying sheets of drawings, inwhich similar letters of reference are employed to indicatecorresponding parts mall the figures.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a car provided with afender embodying the principles of my invention, comprising therein anupper and stationary fender frame or guard and a lower and verticallymovable or adjustable fender-frame. Fig. 2 is a front view of thefender, illustrating said stationary and said movable parts in theirnormal positions. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the fender, with the lowerfender-frame in its raised position. Fig. 4 is a top or plan View of thefender and part of the platform of a car. Fig. 5 is a bottom view ofsaid fender and platform, illustrating in connection therewith anadjustable draw-bar. Fig. 6 is a side view of the parts illustrated inFig. 2, with certain parts of the device represented in section; andFig. 7 is a similar view of the parts illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is ahorizontal section of a flexible cushion or contact-tube which may beattached to the fender. Fig. 9 is a vertical cross-section of saidcushion or contacttube in its normal condition; and Fig. 10 is a similarview of said tube, showing the same flattened out by coming in contactwith an object on the track. Fig. 11 is a front view of the lowerfender-frame and means for raising and lowering the same, said meansbeing of a modified form of construction. Fig. 12 is a front view of adevice operated by footpressure for raising and lowering the lowerfendenframe.

In said drawings, A represents the body of a car; A, the platforms; Athe dashboards, and A the steps.

The bumpers of the car are indicated by the letter A and A is thecoupling or drawrod.

My improved fender is preferably arranged in front and partly underneaththe platform of the car, as will be seen more especially from aninspection of Figs. 1, 6, and 7, and comprises therein a stationary orfixed upper guard or fender frame, as a, and a lower and movable oradjustably arranged fenderframe, as a, provided with adjusting devicesoperated from the platform of the car. Connected with said upper fenderframe or guard Ct are two or more suitable cylinders or tubes 1), whichare placed at convenient points on the front of the platform of the car.Said cylinders or tubes 1) may be provided with suitable fittings c, c,and substantially as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Each fitting c isprovided with a suitable stem 0 which slides into and fits in a socketd, (see Figs. 5, 6, and 7,) bolted preferably to the bottom of theplatform; but said sockets cl may be secured on top of the platform, asmay be desired, which is determined by the height of the platform andthe distance the movable part a of the fen deris intended to be lifted.Said stems of each fitting c are held in place in their respectivesockets d, preferably by steel pins d, dropped from the top of theplatform into perforations in these several parts, as shown. Eachfitting c at the lower endof each tube or cylinder 1) is also providedwith a stem or extension 0 which can be passed into a recess or slotformed in the free end of a stay-bar e, to which it is pivotally securedby means of a pin 6 or in any other wellknown manner. Said stay-bars, ofwhich there is one to each cylinder, are placed underneath the platformand are secured to the bottom of the platform in any suitable manner, aswill be evident from Figs. 6 and 7. As will be understood, said stems cand c of the fittings c and 0, respectively, may be short or long, asmay be necessary to adjust the upper fender-frame to the clearance ofthe bumper or the coupling-bar of the car.

The upper fender frame or guard to is rigidly connected with saidcylinders or tubes 1) in any well-known manner, thereby forming a fixedor stationary guard in front of the bumper, the coupling-bar, and thedashboard of the car. Said upper fender-frame a, as will be clearly seenfrom the several figures of the drawings, comprises therein the frame acovered with wire-netting or other suitable material, the frame beingcurved to conform with the curvature of the front end of the car andcovering the bumper, so as to fully protect a person struck by the carfrom coming in contact with said bumper. The netting of the said upperfender or guard a may be provided with a centrally-arranged opening athrough which the forward end f of an extensible coupling-barf can bemade to project when it is desired to couple two cars, as will beclearly understood from an inspection of Figs. 5, 6, and 7.

The wire-netting may be provided with a series of rubber tubes 9, suchas ordinary rubber hose or other suitable padding, to protect the faceand hands from injury when a person is thrown upon the fender. In orderto sufliciently stay said cylinders or tubes 1), a rod a is used as aconnection between the cylinders, as will be seen from Fig. 4.

The lower and vertically-moving fender a consists, essentially, ofelliptieally curved arms a, the upper ends of which terminate inascending vertical stems a, which extend into and through the cylindersI), in which said stems are free to move upward or downward, as desired.The elliptical parts of said arms extend backward from said verticalparts toward the rear of the platform and by their shape provide a cribor cage adapted to receive and safely retain any person or object struckby the car, while the lower parts of said arms extend forward to a linein advance of said platform and near the surface of the road bed, asseen in Figs. 1 and 6, and are thereby caused to pick up the person orobject struck. \Vithin each of said cylinders b and encircling saidposts or vertical parts a ofv the arms a are coiled springs h ofsuitable strength. The lower ends of said springs may be attached to thebottom of the cylinders, while the upper end of each spring normallyrests against a suitable stop or pin 71. in the parts a at such a pointon said vertical part as may be determined by the distance the arms a ofthe movable fender-frame a are intended to be raised. The functions ofthese springs h are to cause the fender-frame a to return to its normalposition (indicated in Fig. 6) after said frame has been raised to theposition indicated in Fig. 7 and subsequently released by the motorman,thereby forcing said part of the fender downward to its proper positionnear the track and holding it in said position. These springs alsoperform another functionnamely, in case of the rocking or seesaw motionof a car in passing over poorly-laid rails the lowest part of thefender-frame a in coming in contact with the surface of the road-bedwill readily adjust itself to any unevenness by means of thereciprocatory motion of the vertical parts a in their respectivecylinders I).

The arms a of the frame a, of which there may be two, three, or more,only two of which need be provided with springs 71', are preferably madeof spring-steel or other suitable material and curved to the desiredshape, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, 6, and 7, the curved portionsof said arms being preferably flattened, as at (17, to give suflicientspring action to the lower fender-frame and enable it to move slightlybackward when coming in contact with an obstruction on the track. Thistends to break the force of contact and by said spring action of thearms a to slightly lower the front end of the frame, thereby immediatelyscooping or picking up the obstructing object. As will be seen fromFigs. 4.- and 5, the said arms a are connected at their lowest pointswith a front cross-bar a made of suitable metallic tubing and providedwith jam-wheels a and jam shoes or runners a, which may be arranged asindicated in Fig. 5, but said wheels being placed, preferably, directlyover the tread of each track or rail. An y suitable number of suchwheels a and jamshoes a may be used, said shoes serving the followingpurposes first, to facilitate and provide for thefree and unobstructedmovement of the fender-frame a over the tracks or roadbed in either theforward or backward movement of the car; secondly, to prevent in ameasure the abrasion of the cushion or contact-tube i, secured to saidcross-bar a by friction on the pavement; thirdly, to aid the naturalspring of the curved arms of the fender, thereby readily permitting itsautomatic adjustment to the rocking or jolting motion of the car;fourthly and mainly, in cooperation with the spring action of the arms ato provide a complete and safe contact between said shoes and thesurface of the roadbed whenever an object is struck by the fender, andthereby render itimpossible for a person struck to pass beneath saidfender. Furthermore, as has been stated, the arms a may be curvedsubstantially as shown, extending back under the platform of the car andthen turned downwardly and outwardly, gradually approaching the tracknear the front, at which point the cross-bar a and its cushion 't' arenormally held in a position from two to four inches above the track, oreven lower, if desired, except, of course, when the fender-frame a hasbeen raised by the motorman. 1

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to any particular sizeor proportion of the arms a for they may be curved back farther underthe platform and have less proj ection in front of said platform, orthey may be but slightly curved backward and have a greater projectionin front; but I prefer that the recession of said arms shall be aboutone-half of their projection in front of their vertical part-s. As hasbeen stated, said cross-bar a of the lower fender-frame a is providedwith a flexible cushion or contacttube i, which may consist of any wovenfabric or other flexible material, but is preferably a piece of rubbertubing, provided in part with the ribbed surface 4;, substantially asshown in Fig. 9. It is of sufficient weight and strength to protect theperson struck from serious injury or bruises by the crossbar a or theparts back of said bar, the said rubber tube 4; yielding to pressure andwhen struck assuming the shape illustrated in Fig. 10, the upper surfaceor portion of the tube extending backwardly, thereby giving to the'object struck a backward movement, being, as it were, the initialmovement to a backward roll, and thus materially aiding the apparatus toperform its proper function and pick up that which is desired.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have illustrated one manner of securing the cushionor tube 4 to the rod a segmental sheets of metal i and i being arrangedone within and one without the tube 11 and the parts being securedtogether by suitable rivets i as shown. Loops or fastening devices i areused to connect these parts with the cross bar or rod a of thefender-frame a. The said curved arms a may be connected at a suitablepoint, as at the beginning of the curved portions of said arms, with arear bar a, said parts being secured with screw-fittings, or they may bestrapped and bolted or otherwise secured together.

The two ends or side arms of the lower fender-frame a, as will be seenfrom Figs. 4 and ,5, extend outwardly to the width of the carbody,meeting the front cross-bar a at or near the jam-wheels a". This lowerfender-frame a is covered with a suitable netting of wire, willow, rope,perforated rubber, or any other material sufficiently strong and of aclose texture to form and complete the lower guard or shelf to my novelform of fender. A series of rubber tubes k, as ordinary rubber hose orpadded cloth, may be used as a protection to the face and hands of aperson caught in the fender. In order to raise said lower fender-frame,the vertical parts a of the curved arm's extend entirely through saidcylinder Z) and are provided with cap-fittings supplied with aprojecting hook j on the side next to the dashboard of the car. Saidhookshaped ends j, as will be seen from Figs. 6 and 7, project back andover similarly-shaped hooks Z on the vertical sliding bars Z, placedeither on the outer or the inner side of the dashboard. Said bars I movein the guides Z and are connected with suitable chains m, running overpulleys n and n, and are connected with a horizontally-sliding bar 0,which is preferably operated by means of a pivoted lever 0. The movementof said lever either to the right or left will lift or lower the movablepart of the fender, as required and as shown in Fig. 7, being held inits raised position by the contact of said lever 0 with one of theratchet-teeth 0 secured to the dashboard. In lieu of this form ofconstruction for raising and lowering said lower'fenderframe a, I mayuse the construction illustrated in Fig. 11. In this construction thelower ends of the two sliding bars Z are simply hooked over the upperbar of the lower fender-frame a, and the horizontal sliding bar 0 isprovided with ratchet-teeth engaging with a gear-wheel p on a rotary andvertically-arranged rod p, operated by a suitable handle or wheel 19from the platform of the car. By turning said'rod the fender-frame a canbe raised and lowered, as will be understood.

In Fig. 12 I have illustrated still another modified form ofconstruction of a device for raising and lowering the fender-frame a. Inthis case the chains m pass over an extra set of pulleys a beingconnected with a footboard r, adapted to engage with stops 3, securedagainst the dashboard, as shown in said figure.

The manner of applying and operating the herein-described fender is asfollows: As before stated, the sockets d and the stay-bars e arepermanently secured to the two ends of the car-body and are independentof the parts comprising the upper and the lower fender frames a and a,respectively. These frames, being complete in themselves and beingconnected with each other, are secured to said sockets and saidstay-bars in the manner previously described by the pins, holding thefender in its proper position above the tracks. While the car proceedson its trip the fender will need no attention unless track repairs arein progress, when the motorman, by the manipulation of the mechanismdescribed, raises the lower fender-frame a to clear these obstructions.At turnouts or crossovers in streets where there is heavy traffic thereis always more or less unevenness in the road-bed or in the tracks, andhence, the jolting motion of the bed being severe, the fender-frame acan be readily raised at such point should it be necessary to preventdamage to the fender. When the car has reached the terminus of theroute, the pins connecting the several fittings on the cylinders 17 withthe sockets d-and stay-bars e are removed, the fender withdrawn fromthat end of the car, transferred to the other end and quickly adjustedand secured in place, and the car is ready to proceed on its returntrip.

Thus it will be seen that the fender is practical, simple in itsapplication and operation, and is admirably adapted to the purposes forwhich it is intended.

Of course it will be understood that the special form of constructionand the arrangements and combinations of the several parts herein shownare given only to illustrate one practical embodiment of my invention,and hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exactdetails of construction herein shown, as the same may be varied inpractice without departing from the scope of my present invention. Forinstance, the springs h contained in said vertical tubes or cylinders band encircling the vertical parts a may be arranged to act directlyopposite and for the reverse purpose-thatis, to normally lift themovable part a of the fender to the desired elevation when, released bythe motorman. In this adaptation the upper ends of said springs arefastened to the tops of the cylinders b, and the lower ends of thesprings are operatively connected with said vertical parts a, as will beclearly understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a fender forcars, the combination, with an upper fender-frame and means rigidlyconnected therewith for securing said frame in a fixed or stationaryposition in front of the dashboard of a car, of a lower and verticallymoving or adjustable fender-frame, below said upper and fixed frame, andmeans connected with said lower frame for raising and lowering saidframe, whereby the upper part of said lower frame can be raiseddirectlybehind the lower part of the upper frame to produce apractically continuous frame, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

2. In a fender for cars, the combination, with an upper fender-frame andfittings for securing said frame in a fixed or stationary position infront of the dashboard of a car, said fittings forming guides, of alower fenderframe movable and vertically adjustable in said guides, andmeans connected with said lower frame for raising and lowering saidframe, whereby the upper part of said lower frame can be raised directlybehind the lower part of the upper frame to produce a practicallycontinuous frame, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a fender for cars, the combination, with an upper fender-frame,fittings for securing said frame in a fixed or stationary position infront of the dashboard of a car, and cylinders 12 secured in saidfittings, of a lower and vertically moving or adjustable fenderframebelow said upper and fixed frame, vertical stems on said lower frameextending into and through said cylinders, springs encircling saidstems, and means for raising and lowering said lower frame, whereby theupper part of said lower frame can be raised directly behind the lowerpart of the upper frame to produce a practically continuous frame,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. A fender-frame for cars, as a, comprising therein elliptical or ID-shaped arms, as a and vertical parts a, in combination, with cylindersb, springs in said cylinders encircling said parts a, means for raisingand lowering said fender-frame, and an upper stationary fender-frame, asa, connected with said cylinders Z), substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

5. A fender-frame for cars, as a, comprising therein elliptical or 3-shaped arms, as a and vertical parts a in combin. tion,with cylindersb, springs in said cylinders encircling said vertical parts, means forraising and low-' ering said fender-frame, a lower connectingbar a andjam-shoes connected with said bar, and an upper stationary fender-frame,as (I, connected with said cylinders b, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

6. A fender-frame for cars, as a, comprising therein elliptical or 3-shaped arms a, and vertical parts a, in combination, with cylin- .dersb, springs in said cylinders encircling said vertical parts, andfittings c and c connected with said cylinders,each provided with a stemor projection, and sockets cl and staybars 6 secured to the platform ofa car, with j which said fittings are detachably connected,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. A fender-frame for cars, as a, comprise secured to the platform of acar, with which 1 said fittings are detachably connected, and an upperfender-frame, as a, fixed to said cylinders b, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

S. A fender-frame for cars, asa, comprising therein elliptical orD-shaped arms, as a a lower connecting-bar a a flexible tube or cushion,as 1 connected with said bar a and vertical parts a, in. combination,with.

cylinders 12, springs in said cylinders encircling said parts a, andmeans for raising and lowering said fender-frame, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

9. A fender-frame for cars, as a, comprising therein elliptical orJ-shaped arms, as a, a lower connecting-bar a a flexible tube orcushion, as i, connected with said bar a and vertical parts a, incombination, with cylinders 12, springs in said cylinders encirclingsaid parts a", means for raising and lowering said fender-frame, and anupper fender-frame, as a, connected with said cylinders, substantiallyas and for the purposes set forth.

10. In a fender for cars, a fender-frame,

having a lower bar, as a in combination,

with a flexible tube or cushion 1 having ribs IIO 11. A fender-frame forcars, as a, comprising therein elliptical or IJ-shaped arms, as a alower connecting-bar a and vertical parts a, in combination, withcylinders b, springs in said cylinders encircling said vertical parts,caps j on the upper ends of said vertical parts a, hook-shapedguide-rods connected with said caps, and means for operating saidguide-rods from the platform of a car, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

12. A fender-frame for cars, as a, comprising therein elliptical orD-shaped arms, as a, a lower connecting-bar a and vertical parts a incombination, with cylinders 19, springs in said cylinders encirclingsaid vertical parts, caps j on the upper ends of said vertical parts ahook-shaped guide-rods connected with said caps, means for operatingsaid guide-rods from the platform of a car, and an upper stationaryfender-frame, as a, connected with said cylinders b, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

13. The herein-described fender for cars, consisting of cylinders 19having fittings provided with stems, sockets d and stay-bars e securedto the platform of a car, with which said stems are detachablyconnected, a lower and movable fender-frame, as a, comprising thereinelliptical or :y-shaped arms a Vertical parts a connected therewith, alower connecting-bar 6L8, jam-shoes and jam-wheels thereon, springs h insaid cylinders encircling said vertical parts a a ribbed tube orcushion, as 1', secured to said bar a and a fixed fender-frame, as a,connected with said cylinders, all arranged, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

14. The herein-described fender for cars, consisting of cylinders 19having fittings provided with stems, sockets .d and stay-bars e securedto the platform of a car, with which said stems are detachablyconnected, a lower and movable fender-frame, as a, comprising thereinelliptical or D-shaped arms of, vertical parts a connected therewith, alower connecting-bar a j am-shoes and jam-wheels thereon, springs h insaid cylinders, encircling said vertical parts a, a ribbed tube orcushion, as t', secured to said bar a a fixed fender-frame, as a,connected with said cylinders, and means for raising and lowering saidlower fender-frame, consisting essentially, of hook-shaped caps, as j,on the upper ends of said vertical parts a hook-shaped guide-bars Z inengagement With said caps j, a sliding bar 0 and lever 0, and flexibleconnections between said bar 0 and said guidebars Z, all arranged,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this 28th day of September, 1894.

THEODORE C. HAMMOND.

Witnesses:

FREDK. 0. FRAENTZEL, W H. OAMFIELD, J r.

